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Duke  University  Library 


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Yvv-a^. 


.J.  X 


BY-LAWS 


FOR 


THE    GOVERNMENT 


OF 


MANCHESTER  ROYAL  ARCH  CHAPTER, 


No  XLVIII, 


cr 


MANCHESTER,    VIRGINIA. 
REVISED  MAY  ^  A.  L  §864,  R.  A.  M.  2M,  A.  D.  1864. 


RICHMOND : 

CHAS.    H.    WYNNE,    PRINTER. 
1865. 


BY-LAWS 


ARTICLE   I. 

MEETING    OF   THE    CHAPTER. 

The  Stated  Convocations  of  this  Chapter  shall 
be  held  at  the  Masons'  Hall,  in  the  town  of  Man- 
chester, the  first  Thursday  on  or  before  the  Full 
Moon  in  every  month. 

ARTICLE   II. 

ELECTION"   OF    OFFICERS. 

§  1.  The  officers  of  the  Chapter  shall  be  elected 
by  ballot  annually,  at  the  stated  convocation  in 
June,  but  should  any  casualty  prevent  an  election 
at  that  time,  the  officers  for  the  time  being  shall 
retain  their  several  stations  till  their  successors  be 
duly  elected,  which  shall  take  place  at  the  next 
called  or  stated  convocation  thereafter. 

§  2.  The  installation  of  the*  officers  present  shall 
immediately  follow  the  election ;  such  as  may  be 
absent  shall  be  installed  at  the  first  subsequent 
meeting  which  they  may  attend. 

§  3.  Before  the  election  of  officers  takes  place, 
the  list  of  delinquents  shall  be  called  over;    and 


4  BY-LAWS    OF    MANCHESTER 

no  member  who  may  be  in  arrears  to  the  Chapter 
to  the  amount  of  three  dollars,  shall  be  entitled  to 
hold  an  office,  ballot  or  vote,  in  any  case  whatever. 

ARTICLE   III. 

THE    DUTIES    OF    OFFICERS. 

§  1.  The  M.  E.  High  Priest,  or  in  his  absence 
the  E.  King  or  E.  Scribe  may  convoke  a  Chapter 
when  necessary.  He  shall  cause  the  third  section 
of  the  sixth  article  of  these  By-Laws  to  be  read 
immediately  after  the  opening  of  the  Chapter; 
also,  the  third  section  of  the  fourth  article  previous 
to  any  balloting ;  and  the  proceedings  of  the  last 
stated  and  all  intervening  meetings  immediately 
after  the  opening  of  all  stated  meetings. 

§  2.  The  Secretary  shall,  keep  a  true  record  of 
all  the  proceedings  of  the  Chapter,  and  all  Lodges 
held  under  its  authority,  and  shall  report  to  the 
Grand  Secretary  all  rejections,  expulsions,  suspen- 
sions and  deaths  as  they  may  occur,  and  all  remo- 
vals annually.  He  shall  also  make  the  grand 
annual  return  to  the  Grand  Chapter. 

§  3.  The  Treasurer  shall  keep  a  regular  book  of 
accounts,  and  receive  all  moneys  which  may  be 
paid  to  the  Chapter.  He  shall  deliver  to  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  a  semi-annual  statement  of  all  ac- 
counts, and  of  the  funds  of  the  Chapter  previous 
to  the  stated  convocations  in  June  and  December. 

§  4.    The  Treasurer  shall  pay  no  moneys  except 


ROYAL   ARCH   CHAPTER.  5 

by  the  order  of  the  Chapter,  signed  by  the  M.  E. 
High  Priest,  unless  in  cases  of  charity,  and  then 
only  to  the  order  of  the  Standing  Committee. 

§  5.  -It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Janitor  to  take 
charge  of'  the  jewels,  furniture,  &c,  belonging  to 
the  Chapter,  to  place  the  same  in  due  form  and 
proper  .order,  to  see  that  they  be  again  restored  in 
safety,  to  notify  every  member  within  the  town  of 
all  meetings,  and  tile  the  Chapter  ;  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  said  duties  he  shall  receive  five  dollars 
for  each  meeting. 

§  6.  The  Steward  shall  provide  such  refresh- 
ments as  the  M.  E.  High  Priest  or  presiding  officer 
may  direct ;  provided,  that  the  expenses  of  the 
Chapter  for  any  one  meeting  (except  the  Janitor's 
and  Steward's  fees,)  shall  not  exceed  fifteen  dol- 
lars ;  and  provided  that  this  law  shall  not  interfere 
with  the  right  of  individuals  to  furnish  such  refresh- 
ments as  they  may  think  proper ;  and  for  the  dis- 
charge of  this  duty,  the  Steward  shall  receive  one 
dollar. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

PETITION    AND    ADMISSION    OF    CANDIDATES. 

§  1.  All  applications  for  membership,  exaltation, 
or  for  any  other  degree  which  can  be  conferred 
under  the  authority  of  this  Chapter,  shall  be  in 
writing,  signed  by  the  petitioner,  and  must  be 
seconded   by  two  or  more  members,  and   lie  over 


6  BY-LAWS   OF   MANCHESTER 

until  the  next  meeting,  whether  stated  or  special, 
(cases  of  emergency  excepted,)  when  the  ballot 
shall  be  taken,  and  if  he  be  received  unanimously, 
he  shall  then  receive  the  benefit  of  such  admission, 
exaltation  or  other  degree,  as  may  conform  to  his 
request. 

§  2.  Every  member  who  recommends  a  candidate 
for  membership,  exaltation,  or  any  other  degree, 
shall  deposit  five  dollars  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer,  the  said  five  dollars  to  be  returned  if 
the  candidate  be  rejected ;  if  he  be  received,  it 
shall  be  considered  as  a  part  of  his  fee ;  but  if  he 
be  received,  and  does  not  apply  for  the  benefit  of 
said  petition  within  the  course  of  three  stated  meet- 
ings, it  shall  be  forfeited  to  the  use  of  the  Chapter, 
and  his  election  declared  void. 

§  3.  No  member  or  visiting  Companion  shall 
make  known  the  member  or  members  rejecting  a 
candidate,  under  the  penalty  of  expulsion  if  a  mem- 
ber, and  if  a  visitor,  of  never  again  being  allowed 
to  enter  this  Chapter. 

ARTICLE   V. 

DUES  AND  FEES. 

§  1.  Every  member,  except  the  Secretary,  Treas- 
urer, Chaplain,  Janitor,  and  Steward,  shall  pay  at 
each  stated  meeting  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents. 
Should  any  member  fail  to  comply  with  this  regu- 
lation for  twelve  months,  it  shall   be  the  duty  of 


ROYAL   ARCH    CHAPTER-  7 

the  Secretary  to  summon  him  to  appear  at  the  next 
stated  meeting  to  show  cause  why  he  should  not  for- 
feit his  seat  as  a  member  ;  and  should  he  not  comply 
with  such  summons  at  the  end  of  six  months,  he 
shall  thereby  forfeit  his  membership. 

§  2.  The  fee  for  membership  shall  be  five  dollars, 
■which  must  in  all  cases  accompany  the  application ; 
but  no  member  shall  be  charged  with  the  fee  who 
declares  himself  a  member  at  the  time  of  his  ex- 
altation. 

§  3.  The  fee  for  the  Royal  Arch  degree  shall  be 
one  hundred  dollars,  but  for  the  preparatory  degrees 
thereto,  consisting  of  the  Mark,  Past,  Select,  Royal, 
and  Most  Excellent  Masters,  it  shall  be  fifty 
dollars,  and  the  Royal  Arch  fifty  dollars :  which 
fees  must  in  all  cases  be  paid  into  the  hands 
of  the  Treasurer  before  the  degrees  are  con- 
ferred. 

§  4.  Any  member  wishing  to  obtain  a  recom- 
mendation from  this  Chapter  to  the  Grand  Secre- 
tary for  a  Grand  Chapter  Diploma,  shall  first 
produce  the  Treasurer's  receipt  for  all  dues,  upon 
the  production  of  which,  the  Council  may  grant 
him  a  certificate  to  procure  the  same,  or  his  appli- 
cation may  be  referred  to  the  Chapter. 

§  5.  The  expenses  attending  any  extraordinary 
or  called  meeting,  shall  be  defrayed  by  the  person 
or  persons  "for  whose  convenience  or  benefit  the 
meeting  may  be  called. 


8  BY-LAWS   OF   MANCHESTER 

ARTICLE   VI. 

GOVERNMENT    AND    ORDER. 

§  1.  No  ballot  whatever  shall  be  taken,  unless 
there  be  at  least  seven  members  present. 

§  2.  All  subjects  on  which  questions  are  to  be 
taken,  except  such  as  are  specially  provided  for, 
shall  be  decided  by  a  majority;  and  in  cases  of  an 
equal  number  of  votes,  the  Most  Excellent  High 
Priest  shall  decide  by  virtue  of  his  second  vote. 

§  3.  Proper  order  and  decorum  shall  be  main- 
tained during  the  meetings,  and  every  member 
wishing  to  deliver  his  sentiments,  shall  address  the 
Council  in  due  form. 

§  4.  Any  Companion  whose  conduct  is  unma- 
sonic,  immoral,  or  generally  offensive  to  the  Com- 
panions, shall,  by  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  members 
present,  be  excluhed  from  this  Chapter  until  a 
reformation  is  believed  to  have  taken  place,  and  he 
is  again  unanimously  received. 

§  5.  No  member  shall  be  at  liberty  to  withdraw 
after  having  taken  his  seat,  without  first  obtaining 
permission  from  the  proper  officer. 

ARTICLE   VII. 

WITHDRAWING    AND    FILLING    VACANCIES. 

§  1.  Any  member  wishing  to  withdraw  from  this 
Chapter,  shall  make  the  same  known  either  in  per- 
son, by  proxey,  or  in  writing ;   but  no  one  shall  be 


ROYAL   ARCH    CHAPTER.  9 

permitted  to  withdraw  until  he   has  paid  all  dues, 
fees,  &c. 

§  2.  In  case  of  death,  removal,  or  resignation  of 
any  officer  of  this  Chapter,  the  vacancy  thereby 
occasioned  shall  be  filled  at  the  next  meeting  after 
it  shall  have  been  notified  of  the  fact. 

ARTICLE   VIII. 

THE    STANDING    COMMITTEE. 

The  Most  Excellent  High  Priest,  Excellent  King, 
and  Excellent  Scribe,  shall  form  a  Standing  Com- 
mittee, any  two  of  whom  may  act,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  examine  the  Secretary's  and' Treasurer's 
books  and  accounts  previous  to  the  stated  convoca- 
tions in  June  and  December,  and  report  to  the 
Chapter  the  state  of  the  funds  at  that  time,  and  to 
which  committee  all  applicants  for  charity  shall  be 
referred. 

ARTICLE    IX. 

AMENDING    THE    BY-LAWS. 

§  1.  Every  proposition  for  the  adoption  of  a 
new  law,  altering  or  abrogating  an  existing  one, 
shall  be  made  in  writing  at  a  stated  meeting,  and 
if  seconded,  shall  be  read  and  laid  over  until  the 
next  stated  Chapter,  when,  if  approved  by  two- 
thirds  of  the  members  present,  it  shall  become  a 
part  of  the  By-Laws. 

§  2.    All  cases  of  emergency,  and  subjects  not 


10  BY-LAWS. 

herein  specially  provided  for,  shall  be  decided  by 
a  majority  of  the  members  present. 

§  3.  Every  member  shall  be  furnished  with  a 
printed  copy  of  these  By-Laws  at  the  expense  of 
the  Chapter. 

§  4.  These  laws  shall  go  into  operation  from  the 
passage  thereof,  and  all  laws  heretofore  passed,  aie 
hereby  repealed. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEMBERS 


MANCHESTER  ROYAL  ARCH  CHAPTER, 

No.    XL  VIII. 


Most  Excellent  WM.  BRADLEY, 

JOHN  H.  HATCHER, 
LEWIS  ROGERS, 
Companion      WM.  L.  HOLT, 

JOS.  E.  SEAWARD, 
"  NATHAN  EUBANKS, 

WM.  WHITWOKTH, 
GEO.  T.  BLANTON, 
WM.  W.  WEISIGER, 
A.  A.  ALLEN, 
WM.  E.  DAY, 
A.  J.  SIMMONS, 


High  Priest. 

King. 

Scribe. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

Captain  of  the  Host. 

Principal    Sojourner. 

Royal  Arch  Captain. 

3d    , 

Master  of  Veils. 


3d  ) 
2d  U: 
lstj 


Steward  and  Janitor. 


MEMBERS. 

Most  Excellent  FRANCIS  J.  BOGGS,  P.  H.  P. 


COMPANIONS. 


D.  K.  WEISIGER, 
Rev.  J.  P.  WOODWARD, 
A.  C.  GIBBS, 
DOUGLAS  BAIRD, 
W\I.  WALSH, 
JAMES  BIUGGS, 
CORNELL  BRADLEY, 
THOS.  J.  ALLGOOD, 
WM.  AMBERS, 
PETER  S.  COO    ER, 
JOHN  FORSYTH, 
WM.  R.  WEISIGER, 
H.  A.  PHILLIPS, 


ALEX.  BAXTER, 
HEN  BY  FITZGERALD,  Sr., 
HENRY  FITZGEKALD,  Jr., 
EVAN  ALBRIGHT, 
THADEUS  W.  CROW, 
JOHN  S.  WHIT  WORTH, 
N.  A.  BASS, 
BENJAMIN  H.  NASH. 
JOHN  A.  WILLIAMS, 
C.  OGDEN, 

E.  D.  OGDEN, 

F.  C.  WEISIGER. 


192? 


